Page 41 - Little Stories of a Great Monk

R
a
h
c
c
o
t
O
n

e

i
,
e
C
h

e
r
u
h
f
c
v
n
e

e
w
d

r
e
t
Once, Chief Reverend went to a church. .
n

a
i
n
o
f
h
m
d
o
o

r
e

e

d
d

a
v
c
r
o
e
o

e
l
n
h
e
i
a
r

h
t

s

e

h
e
h
n
e
h

T
r
c
r
h

e
.

d
e
t
e
There he discovered a hole near the main door of the church. Then he requested the
h
t
e
r
T
q
s
e
u
c

h
e
h
t
e

u
s
a
e
o
d
.
l
l
u

e
l
e
v
o
h
d
f
e
h
t
’

e
T
e

n
h

l
e
a
r
e
h

a
n
j

u
l
p
t
t
p
o
m
o
l
s
s
w
i
t
n
h
e

v
e
c
o
r
p

u

s
t
P Pastor to cover up the hole so that people wouldn’t fall and injure themselves. The
a
o
t
o
r

t
t
b
r
e
c
a
d
o
t
i
’
e
e

“
a
s
t
n

a

:

e
n

k
e
a
e
r
e

f
r
t
r
h

G

e
h
n
u
s
l
o
f

s
r
p
o
S
.
a

w
a
u
o
d
d
o

y
r
l
P
O
u
Pastor replied: “Our God would take care of us. So far there hasn’t been any
h
a
e
e
e
h
R
v
t

a

h
i
i
e
a
n
s
b
e

s
”
t
.
a
n
u undesirable incident as a result of the hole.” Chief Reverend then said: “What about
n
e
e
C
s
l
e
r
o

l
u
f

o
f
d
e
u
“
i
h
a
d
d
l
t

W
n
r
b
t
i
s
t
:
t
e
n
d
o
h
r
c
i

a
e

t
?

o
m
e
me then? I have no God to take care of me!” ”
h

a
r

v

t

a
e
e
e
k
e
n
a
c
o

o
n

e
o
G
m
!
f
d
I

t
h

Chief Reverend even cracked jokes with leaders of other religions. Chief Reverend even cracked jokes with leaders of other religions.
s
:
“
,
e

d
g

l
h
r

i
a
b

i
s
T
i
e
h
s
T
r
h
s

m
o
w
e

There was once, Chief Reverend asked a Catholic Priest: “This world is a big mess,

e

d
i
o
a
k
s
h
t
o
a
a

a
C
s

f
e
v
R
e
e
,
d
n

n
e
r
e
C
c
i
s

c
r
e
l
t
i

P
w
O
u
h

e

o
n

f
i
a
r
.
e
s

v
There was once when Chief Reverend was attending a dinner function. Our Prime
e

r
e
n
d
e
R
P
T
r

e
m
w
r
i
h

w
h
a
i
e
t
d

e
i
n
d

n
g

e
n
C
n
e
n
s
a
u
t
w
a
c

e
n
t
c
n

f
i
r
o
why has God created such a big mess?” The Catholic Priest jokingly replied: “This is
w h y h a s G o d c r e a t e d s u c h a b i g m e s s ? ” T h e C a t h o l i c P r i e s t j o k i n g l y r e p l i e d : “ T h i s i s
M i n i s t e r , T u n D r . M a h a t h i r w a s t h e G u e s t o f H o n o u r f o r t h e n i g h t . O u r P r i m e
Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir was the Guest of Honour for the night. Our Prime

s
h
”

.
a
v
v
e
c
n
t
h
s

e
e
o
e

t
o
n

T
r
r
x
v
i
r
p
e

m
s
y
u
e

o
r
i
i
e
a
e

e
e
p
f

n
r
y
i
t

e

.
h
n
o
e

x
i
e
b
o
n
f
p

his very first experiment. He does not have any previous experience.” Then both of
t
d
s
H
h
a
f
n

h

t
e
d

M
e
d
s
t
h
y
o
d
Minister noticed that Chief Reverend did not eat the food served and asked him why. .
o

e
o

i
t
e

v
R
n
d
f

h
t
t
C
e
r
e
e
i
d
a
i
a
d
n
e
o
s
i
d

t
h
w
a
k

e
s
r
n
d
t

m
v
c
e
e
n
r
h

i
i
t
i
k
n

e
t them broke into laughter. .
m

h
a
b
g
e
r
t
r
u
o
h
o

l
e

Chief Reverend replied, “Every year, Muslims observe fasting for one whole month. Chief Reverend replied, “Every year, Muslims observe fasting for one whole month.
W e B u d d h i s t m o n k s a l s o d o t h e s a m e b u t w e f a s t e v e r y d a y t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r . ”
We Buddhist monks also do the same but we fast everyday throughout the year.”
The Prime Minister could not believe his ears. He gazed at Chief Reverend in
T h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r c o u l d n o t b e l i e v e h i s e a r s . H e g a z e d a t C h i e f R e v e r e n d i n
e
u
t
“
l
:

d
n
n
i
u
c
h

”
e
t
r
e
r
e
v
a
a

y

y
d
f

r
u
f
m
W
e

e
.

o
a
t
s
e
i
e
f
e
h
e

b
f
l
n
C
d
i
h
e
n
.
r
t

e

v
t
o

s
i
d disbelief. Chief Reverend then continued: “We fast every day after our lunch time.”
c
e
n
i
R
u
e

g

h
l
t
t

E
a
Everyone at the table laughed. .
t
a
e
e
n
o
y
b
r
d
e
a
l
v
h
e
Later on, Prime Minister went on the stage to deliver his speech and he quipped, Later on, Prime Minister went on the stage to deliver his speech and he quipped,

o

v
r
e

k

I
y
e

e
n
y
l
t
y
h
O
n
l
y
“Only now do I know that there are some people who fast every day. But they only

o
“
y
w
.

d
d
a

t

n
o
B
u
n
e
w
r
a

h
o

m
h
t
e

p
h
o
t
e
e

e
l
p
t
a
r
a
o
w
s
t
e

o
s
f

a
n
o
r
e
f

s
i
a
t
a
u
i
fast after lunch, this type of fasting is easy.” The floor roared with laughter. .
f
h
t
t
s
a

s
g
g
e
s
f

a
r
i
n
h
c
f
u
d
e

e
s

r
o
,

r
o
a
l
h
o
t
e
p
.
y
”
h
y
f
l

t
e
h
w

l

r
t

t
T
i
38 39